Pahang Ruler confers Datukship on 109

KUANTAN: A total of 109 people will receive state awards carrying the title “Datuk Seri” or “Datuk” in conjunction with the Sultan of Pahang's 74th birthday today. 

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, heads the list of 17 recipients of the Sri Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (SSAP) award, which carries the title “Datuk Seri.” 

There are 92 recipients of three different awards which carry the title of “Datuk”. 

This means that the number of Datuks created in Pahang this year will be higher than the number awarded in conjunction with the birthday of Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob earlier this month. 

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob had told reporters on Thursday that it would not be wrong for Pahang to award more titles this time round. 

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor

He noted that as the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ahmad Shah had met many people from all sectors and other states. 

Adnan had also said if Malacca could give out 83 Datukships, it would not be wrong for Pahang to award more titles.  

The investiture ceremony which was supposed to be held today will be held on Nov 27 because of Ramadan. 

A total of 901 people will receive other awards from the Sultan during the ceremony, to be held at the Istana Abu Bakar, Pekan. 

The three awards which carried the “Datuk” title are Sri Indera Mahkota Pahang (SIMP) (12 recipients); Darjah Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (DSAP) (15 recipients); and Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) (65 recipients).  

The other SSAP recipients include six Cabinet Ministers.  

They are Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Information Minister Datuk Paduka Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, Education Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin and Finance Minister II Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop. 

Ab Aziz Kassim, senior private secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister

Those to be awarded SIMP include Court of Appeal judges Datuk Richard Malanjun, Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Abdul Rahman and Datuk Augustine Paul and Kuantan High Court judge Datuk Heliliah Mohd Yusof. 

The recipients of DSAP include Najib's younger brothers Datuk Ahmad Johari and Mohamed Nizam, Pahang Speaker Datuk Wan Mohamed Razali Wan Mahussin, Terengganu Speaker Datuk Che Mat Jusoh and Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Mansur. 

Those who will receive DIMP include Deputy Trade and Commodities Minister Datuk Anifah Aman, Pahang state executive councillors Fong Kong Fuee, Mohd Soffi Tan Sri Abd Razak and Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin; Pahang state assemblymen Lau Lee, Ti Lian Ker, M. Davendran, Rosni Zahari, Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan and Liow Tiong Lai. 

Other DIMP recipients are Najib's senior private secretary Ab Aziz Kassim, New Straits Times Press group general manager for editorial marketing and communications Datuk Ahmad A. Talib and Berita Harian group editor Hishamuddin Aun. 

Among those who will receive the Setia Mahkota Pahang were Pahang CID chief Asst Comm Ahamd Noordin Mustafa, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan psychiatry consultant department head Dr Ahmad Zafri Abu Bakar and actress Fauziah Nawi.